Station indicator



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

I. N. & S. SOLY.

STATION INDICATOR.

No. 459,215. Patented Sept. 8,1891.

SOLY STATION INDICATOR COMPANY III (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

LN. & s. SOLY; STATION INDICATOR.

No. 459,215. Patented Sept. 8, 1891.

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4 SheetsSl1eet 4.

(No Model.)

I. N. 8v S. SOLY. STATION INDICATOR.

No. 459,215. Patented Sept. 8,1891.

Wit names Q/xwaw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRENE N. SOLY AND SABIN SOllY, OF MONTREAL, CANADA.

STATlON-INDICATORQ SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,215, dated September 8, 1891.

Application filed November 5, 1890. Serial No. 370,366- (No model.) Patented in Canada June 23, 1890, No. 34,570.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we,IRENE NAPOLEON Son? and SABIN SOLY, both of the city of Montreal, in the District of Montreal and Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Station -Indicators, (a part of which has been patented in the Dominion of Canada on the 23d of June, 1890, under N0. 34:,570;) and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

This invention relates to that class of station-indicators having a shifting band bearing the station-indicatin g matter, its object being to secure, in addition to accurate working and the introduction of advertising-matter, an easy reversal at any point desired of the direction of travel of the band, formed in this case of a series of cards, an automatic reversal upon the movement of either of the end cards of such series, and to prevent the signaling device from sounding at certain times, as is sometimes required; and to this end it consists in the combinations of parts which will be hereinafter described, and specifically pointed out in the claims. Mechanism whereby a number of these indicators can be operated at one time is also embraced in the invention.

For full comprehension of the invention reference must be had. to the annexed drawings, in which like symbols indicate corresponding parts, and wherein Figure 1 is a front view of the indicator, the casing being removed in parts to disclose the operating mechanism; Fig. 2, a rear elevation of such mechanism; Fig. 3, a plan view of same; Figs. 4c and 5, vertical sections of the indicator, respectively on lines co m and 2 2, Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a detail plan of switch mechanism adapted to secure the reverse movement of the indicator-cards; Fig. 7, a detail vertical section on line y y, Fig. 1; and Figs. 8 and 9, enlarged sectional details showing the bell-sounding mechanism from two points of view, the first looking from the casing inward and the second toward the easin g.

The casing A of the indicator is in shallow box. form, of a uniform width in front elevation and having its lowew half diminished in cross-seetion, the upper half containing the operating mechanism and having its top section A removable (and, if desired, the back also) and the lower half forming a receptacle for the series of cards when folded in a pile at that end, A A being glazed openings respectively in the top section and lower half, through which the indicating and advertising matter can be seen.

The names of the several stations are upon one side and the advertisements on the other side of separate slats or strips 13, of card, tin, or other suitable material, and these are flexibly united in a band in any suitable way and each carried in turn 011 the teeth 0 of hexagonal sprocket-Wheels C C, mounted rigidly on both ends of a main shaft C, such teeth 0 fitting slots Z) in the cards. This main shaft C is located near the top of the upper half of the indicator and is mounted in suitable bearings or standards D D, extending up from the ends of the base-plate D of a metal frame secured in place by lugs (Z (Z proj ecting from the outer sides of the standards D D and screwed to the upper edge a of the casing on which the removable top section A rests. The main shaft 0 is rotated so as to bring each of the slats B in turn opposite the openings A A by mechanism now to be described. I

A horizontal sliding bar E has hearings in standards D D cast on the base-plate D, and to its right-hand end is secured the pull-cord E, with handle E attached, the left-hand end being hooked to engage a trig-arm F, formed in one with the hammerF', for sounding the bell F which is hung outside the eas ing on an arm F screwed to same, this bell mechanism being clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, 8, and 9.

The trig F and the hammer F together form a lever which is pivoted at f in theslotted end of the base-plate D,and on such pivot or spindle f at either side of the lever are coiled a heavy and light spring, lettered, respectively, g g, each having one end bearing against a pin f, ext-ending across the slot of the base-plate, and the opposite end of the former being bent so as to pass first over a lug f on one side of the hammer F and then to bear upon the top side of the base-plate D, while the like end of the latter g bears beneath a similar lugf on the opposite side of the hammer F, the object of this arrangement being to normally relieve the hammer from the pressure of the heavy spring 9 and allow the light one g to raise it from contact with the bell, the operation of sounding which will be described further on.

Mounted rigidly on the horizontal sliding bar E is a vertical arm H, having its upper end forked to engage an annular slot j in a sleeve or carriage J adapted to slide on the main shaft O,and also on the barE, between such arm H and the standard D a coiled spring H is arranged to restore such bar to its normal position after it has been pulled outward to operate the indicator, as will be fully described.

In a central position on the main shaft C is arranged a disk K, having radial arms K and radial slots 7c between such arms, the function of these latter being to afford a central bearing for the slats and prevent sagging while the slots are used in the operation of turning the main shaft.

The sleeve or carriage J is located to the left of this central disk K, and carries in upwardly projecting arms J J 2 a horizontal spindle J encircled by a coiled spring J 4 between a lugj on its side and the arm J, and to the right of the disk a similar spindle L is carried in a forked standard D extended from the standard D and a support Dflwhich latter, together with two others D D is taken up from one side of the base-plate D out of the way of the sliding bar E, but extended horizontally inward above such bar fora purpose to be presently mentioned,the spindle L being also encircled bya coiled spring L between a lug Z on it and one end of the fork. The functions of the spindles J and L are respectively in turn to rotate the disk K and hold it stationary, this latter being its normal condition, and in this connection it will readily be seenthat it is only necessary to insert the spindle L into either of the slots 7a, which isdone by the spring L, to hold the disk normally still, while to rotate the same the spindle J 3 is assisted by switch mechanism shown in Fig. '6 and now to be described. This switch mechanism, which acts on an arm J extending down from the carriage J and carrying a roller J on its end, consists of a horizontal lever M, pivoted at m on top of the standard D and having an even bearing on all the supports D D and Di, its right-hand end being provided with a handle M, which extends out through an opening A in the side of the casing, through which the pull-cord E also passes, and its inner end being bent upward and terminating in a guide-plate M which presents two guiding-surfaces M 1W1, forming courses of travel at right angles to each other for the roller J which is moved along either, according to the location of such guide-plate and locking mechanism carried by it. This locking mechanism consists of a lever N, pivoted at n to the lever M, near the inner end of the main part of same, and

M, which extends transversely above the le-' ver M and has two notches m m in its bottom edge, either of which is adapted to engage with a knife-edge or beveled projection m cast in one with the standard D and so lock the guide-plate to the left or right of the roller J (looking at it in Fig. 4,) and so determining the direction of rotation of the disk K, as will be more fully explained. The arm N of the lever N has a branch arm N for stability, and is connected by a spiral spring 41 with the neck of the guide-plate M and this spring serves to keep theplate M in contact with the knife-edgem With the exception of mentioning that a coiled spring J having its ends secured, re-

spectively, to a downwardly-projecting hook j on the carriage J and a lug 7' at the base of the arm H, is used to hold the said carriage normally in a vertical position, all the parts necessary to the ordinary operation of the indicator, with a reversal by hand at any point desired of the direction of movement of the band of cards or slats, have been described; and it will be better to explain the operation of these parts before touching upon the additional mechanism used for securing an automatic reversal and for preventing the signal ing device from sounding at times.

\Ve may point out that the end cards B B of the band, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, are pivoted at 1) I1 respectively, at the bottom of the indicator and at the rear of a shelf B in the upper half thereof, and that the sprocket= wheels 0 O can be turned in either of the directions indicated by the arrows 1 2, and, furthermore, as the names of the stations are 011 the outer or convex side of the band and the advertisements on the inner both must be seen, the former in passing the opening A and the latter as disclosed through the opening A Looking at Fig. 4, the guide-plate M is in position to command a rotation of the disk K in the direction of arrow 1 when the pull (the length'of which is determined by a stop d on the base-plate D) through handle E and cord E upon the sliding bar E occurs, and this taking place such bar is moved from the position-shown in Fig. 1 till the arm H, and with it the carriage J, is in the position shown in Fig. 2, the end of the spindle J at the start coming in contact with the end of spindle L, forcing it out of the slot in the disk K and being in turn inserted in such slot, so that upon the roller J coming in contact with the guiding-surface M of the guide-plateMiwhich it does after such insertion, the carriage J is tilted or rotated on the shaft 0 a distance de termined by the spaces between the slots is, and so soon as the slot following the one in IIC which the spindle J is engaged comes opposite the end of spindle L this latter is inserted therein by its spring and thus arrests further movement. The bell F is also sounded in this operation by the hooked end of the bar E drawing the trig-arm F and hammer F into the dotted position shown in Fig. 2, so that upon being released the heavy spring y will throw the ham mer down to strike the bell and be checked from following it the whole way by coming in contact with the base-plate D, as before mentioned, and the light spring g will instantly raise it (the hammer) from contact with the bell, so as to secure a brilliant tone.

. The return of the parts just described to their normal position (shown in Figs. 1 and 4) is secured by the springs H and J and it will readily be seen that should a reversal of the direction of travel of the band of cards be desired-i. e, to follow the arrow 2-it is only necessary to shift the switchdever M so that the guide-plate M will present its guidingsurface M for the roller J to travel along when the pull occurs, and the beveled tooth on, which separates the notches m m in the locking-plate M of lever N will, as the switch-lever is moved to the dotted position shown in Fig. 6, slip up over the knife-edge m and must consequently depress the outer end N of such lever, so as to clear the end of the roller J U and enable it to pass to the opposite side of same. This protruding end N of the lever N is used as a safeguard to insure the roller J taking the side of the guide-plate M desired.

Should it be desired to operate a number of the indicators together, the pull-cord E of each would be connected at one end to a main line, such as indicated at E", Fig. 3, and the end of the sliding bar E, to which the pullcord is ordinarily attached, would be bent down, as shown ate, so as to engage in a notch O in the rim or flange O of a disk 0 to the periphery of which the other end of the pullcord E would be attached, and which is mounted on a spindle 0 carried in bearings cast in one with the base plate D, a spiral spring 0*, with ends attached, respectively, to the spindle and the bearings, serving to restore the parts to their normal position instead of the spring ll, which could be dispensed with. A pull upon the cord 1 under these circumstances would rotate the disk 0 in the directionindicated. This would move the bar E as formerly with the same results as regards the other parts, and upon releasing the cord the spiral spring would turn the disk in the reverse direction, and the lug O at the back of the notch 0 would insure contact with the bent end e of the bar E and drive it back to its normal position. Any suitable system of rollers can be adopted to secure easy traveling of the cords.

The automatic reversal of the direction of travel of the band of cards upon the move ment of either of the end ones thereof is secured by the following means: The switchlever M carries a rigid transverse bar, forming an arm on each side of the pivoting-point m of such lever, which arms are lettered P P and are respectively connected with the end cards 13 B aivoted as before mentioned, the connection in the one case (between P and B) being secured through a rod Q, connected to the card or plate B at one end of the free edge of same and extending up and being connected with one end of the free edge of a plate R, the opposite edge of which is pivoted at r to the casing beneath the shelf B a second rod S being taken up from the other end of the plate R and having its end bent so as to first loop over a vertical guidepin T, carried by a lug t on the side of the base-plate D, and then loop over a third rod U, one end of which is passed through an eye in the arm P and bent to [it in a notch m in the bottom edge of the locking-plate M and the other end bent upward at right angles to form a detent Y, with which a pin or lug c on the side of the base of the arm H engages at the proper time, as will be fully explained in the operation of these parts. The connection between P and B is secured through an arm Q projecting out from the free edge of the latter and having connected with it a rod S similar in every respectto S, looped over a like vertical guide-pin T carried in the same way as the pin T on the opposite side of the base-plate D, and also looped over a rod U bent and arranged similarly to the one U in every way, and with a detent V at the end, with which a lug 1' on the opposite side of the base of the arm II will engage, the plate M containing another notch m similar to the one on for the opposite returned end of this rod U The operation of these parts is follows: The movement by the band of the last card 13 to the position shown in Fig. 5 raises the plate R from the position shown in Fig. at to that shown in Fig. 5, and this plate in turn ele vates the rod S and with it the rod U till the latter is in the positien shown in Fig. 2, with its detent end V in the line of travel of the lugs on the base of the arm II, which is of course in its drawn position, or that consequent upon the pull on the sliding bar E required to move the band,and the elevation of this rodU causes the end of it that is in contact with the locking plate M to raise same and consequently lower the end N of the lever N, so as to clear the roller J, as before described, thus making it possible, when the arm II is thrown back to its normal position, for thelug t to engage the detent end V of the rod U and draw it along a sufficient distance to shift the switch-lever M in the same way as by hand. The movement of the last card B 0perates in the same way through the arm Q and rods S and U to throw the switch-lever M in an opposite direction. The depression of the end N of the lever N to clear the roller J is necessitated in the automatic reversal by the difference in the forces applied automatically and by hand, the former being hardly strong enough to overcome the friction of the knife-edge on. To prevent the bell being sounded at certain times, such as during the night in sleeping-cars, we arrange in hangers w from the base D a wire rod IV, bent at one end to project through the opening A in the casing and having a handle WV, by which it can be moved so as to operate a right-angled arm carried on its inner end, which arm bears upon the trig-arm F and throws it out of the line of movement of the hooked end of the sliding bar E, thus preventing the operation of the hammer F.

WVhat we claim is as follows:

1. In a station-indicator, the combination, with a casing having two openings in its face and interior metal supports, of a series of cards. in band form carrying on one side the station-indicating matter and on the reverse side advertisements and the ends of such band terminating at different levels, one between and the other below such openings, so that both sides of same shall be visible through said openings, a carrier for shifting such band of cards, a portion only of which rests on same at one time, and means for rotating and arrest-ing the movement of such carrier.

2. In a station-indicator, the combination, with a casing having one or more openings in its face and an interior metal frame, of a series of cards in band form bearing the names of the stations, a carrier for shift-ing such band of cards, a portion only of which rests on same at one time, having a disk in connection therewith, a movable lockingspindle for holding such disk stationary, a movable carriage and spindle carried by it for disengaging said locking-spindle and rotating such disk, and means for carrying, moving, and partially rotating such carriage.

3. In a station-indicator, the combination, with a casing having one or more openings in its face and an interior metal frame, of a series of cards in band form bearing the names of the stations, a carrier for shifting such band of cards, a portion only of which rests on same at one time, having a disk in connection therewith, a locking device for holding-such disk stationary, a movable carriage and spindle carried by it for disengaging said locking device and rotating such disk, a switch-lever and guide-plate carried by it, and means for carrying and moving said carriage into and out of contact with and along said guide-plate, and means for locking said switch-lever in alternate positions, for the purposes set forth.

4. In a station-indicator, the combination, with a casing having one or more openings in its face and an interior metal frame, of a series of cards in band form bearing the names of the stations and each end card of the series being pivoted to such casing, a carrier for shifting such band of cards, a portion only of which rests on same at one time, having a disk in connection. therewith, a looking device for holding such disk stationary, a movable carriage and spindle carried by it for disengaging said locking device and rotating such disk, a switch-lever and guideplate carried by it, means for locking said switch-lever in alternate positions, connections between each of the pivoted end cards and such switch-lever having detent projections, and means for carrying and moving said carriage into and out of contact with and along said guide-plate and for engaging and drawing on said detent projections, for the purposes set forth.

5. In a station-indicator, the combination, with a casing, a metal frame within same, and a sliding bar for operating a band bearing the names of the stations, of a bell hung on said casing, a trig-hammer pivoted in said metal frame and having a light and heavy spring coiled on either side of same on its pivot-pin, each end of the heavy spring bearing normally upon the said frame, but one end being arranged to make contact with the upper side of such hammer, and the ends of the light spring bearing, respectively, upon such frame and the under side of said hammer, for the purpose set forth.

6. In a station-indicator, the combination, with a casing, a metal frame within same, a sliding bar E for operating a band bearing the names of the stations, and a bell F, of the trig-hammer F F, hangers w, and the rod W, having a handle W, and an arm 10 for throwing said trig-hammer out of its normal position, for the purpose set forth.

7. In a series of station-indicators, the combination, with their casings, metal frames within same, bands bearing the names of the stations, carriers for shifting such bands, and rotating mechanisms, of a number of the sliding bars E, having bent ends e, and notched disks 0 mounted so'as to be rotated by pullcords E taken along their peripheries and having spring connections whereby such sliding bars can be moved back and forth, as and for the purposes set forth.

I. N. SOLY. S. SOLY. Witnesses:

OWENN EVANS, XVILL. P. McFEA'r.

IOC 

